Voicestream GPRS PC Card

[Tycho Morgan]

<a href="http://www.voicestream.com/products/devices/cards.asp">http://www.voicestream.com/products/devices/cards.asp</a><br /><br />Voicestream has recently released a PC Card to allow users of Pocket PCs and laptops to access their iStream (GPRS) network. This type II card appears to fully support laptops and Pocket PCs on the GPRS network; however, it is unclear if and how the card will support GSM voice communications. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.voicestream.com/images/devices/novDC_02sml.gif" /><br /><br />This is the kind of thing that I've been waiting to see in the Midwest for some time. It seems we lag behind just about everywhere else on the globe, save the north pole. While I'd still like to see a Bluetooth phone, this in the mean time is a very good step in the right direction.<br /><br />Thanks to Kirk Stephens for sending this our way.

[bbarker]

I checked out VoiceStream's iStream service. It sounds good, but the only phone that would work with it does not support analog mode when you're out of digital areas. I travel outside digital areas quite a bit, so it won't meet my needs.

Verizon's new Express Network looks better for my needs.

[kagayaki1]

Can't find a price anywhere on their site. Anyone? This is likely made by another manufacturer - anyone know who it is?

[Don't Panic!]

OOOH BABY! Here's some info about the rate plans:

iStream Data Only Plans:
PDA
$19.99 per month
5 Megabytes (MB) (about 90 web pages or 850 e-mails)
300 Ping Pong™ text messages
For use with your Windows® CE-based PDA.
$5.00 per additional MB

Laptop
$39.99 per month
10 Megabytes (MB) (about 180 web pages or 1,700 e-mails)
300 Ping Pong™ text messages
For use with your Windows® laptop.
$4.00 per additional MB

Any Device
$10.00 per MB
Roaming outside of the iStream network

These are the deals with the PC Card.

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[JornadaJ]

Checked their coverage area. And of course, they don't cover Upstate NY. (I mean UPSTATE, not Syracuse.) This looks promising, though. Oh well, can't wait 'til I get back to TX.

[rob]

The "suggested retail price" (from their site): $274.99 8O

http://orders.voicestream.com/phones/PocketPC_Details.cfm

or

http://orders.voicestream.com/phones/index.cfm?CFID=15220318&CFTOKEN=63230719 (click on the PC Card for more details to see price).

Ouch...

[Arne Hess]

Are they nuts to offer a single band 1900 MHz card only? This doesn’t limits you within the states only but International Roaming will not be able too!
I wonder how Deutsche Telekom, as an GSM 900/1800 operator could accept this?

My piece of advice: Just take a regular GPRS Tripple Band phone like the Ericssons and everything is fine or wait for the Compaq GSM/HGPRS Wireless Pack (see my review from yesterday here).

http://www.pocketpcwriter.net/stories.php?story=02/03/06/4560436

[Andrew Duffy]

I agree with Arne - it seems strange that a GPRS card would be 1900 Mhz only when most of the world's available GPRS service is 900 or 1800 (although I don't think GPRS roaming agreements exist yet). Also, is there a headset on the card to make and take voice calls?
I've got the t39 as well, and GPRS is certainly a step up from HSCSD since I could never get more than one timeslice anyway. With GPRS packets can slip into quiet times of other people's calls so the responsiveness is much better.